asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will grant a weekly allowance to wives of non-contributory old age pensioners.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old Age Pensioners.
1.
Legislation to provide for the grant of a weekly allowance to wives of non-contributory old age pensioners is not at present contemplated. I would point out, however, that under existing legislation the wife of a non-contributory old age pensioner may be paid an old age pension in her own right if she has attained pensionable age, now 69 years, and otherwise satisfies the statutory conditions for receipt of such a pension.
2.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is prepared to extend the scheme under which a free butter allocation is given to non-contributory old age pensioners to include contributory old age pensioners.
The Deputy is no doubt referring to the vouchers being issued under the EEC Social Assistance Butter Scheme. The scope of this temporary scheme, as laid down by the Community, is restricted to persons in receipt of social assistance and their dependants, that is, to persons whose welfare payments are subject to a means test. Accordingly, I have no power to extend the scheme to recipients of social insurance benefits such as contributory old age pensioners.
Would it be possible to introduce a scheme? It seems to be unfair to people who are only getting marginally more and who are not receiving a butter allowance.
This scheme is subject to EEC regulations. It is not possible to extend the scheme under the conditions laid down by the Community.
I appreciate that, but would it not be possible to introduce a scheme to cover contributory pensioners?
That is a separate question.
3.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a non-contributory old age pension (details supplied) which was granted on 17th July, 1973, has not been issued.
The delay in this case, which I very much regret, was due to a breakdown in a procedure, which was brought into operation in July last, to speed up the issue of pension order books to new pensioners, following the very great increase in the number of claims for old age pensions consequent on the substantial easing of the means test and the reduction of the qualifying age to 69 years. Steps have now been taken to ensure that at least this particular failure will not recur.
A pension order book has now been issued and all arrears of pension due have been paid.
A letter was issued on 17th July stating that this lady had been granted a pension of £4.90. She was waiting every week for the book to come to the local post office. I cannot understand that the overloading caused by the new applications which came in in July should have affected this case. It had already been decided on.
The Deputy is making a statement.
I accept fully that this delay was as a result of human error for which I accept responsibility. The only issue raised in the original question was that this human error could have been caused by the very substantial increase in volume of applications being dealt with. I appreciate that there may have been considerable hardship on the person named and I regret it sincerely. I should like to thank the Deputy for bringing this to my attention.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary indicate whether there are many such cases delayed because of human error?
That is a separate question.